Overhead Line (OHL) Engineer - Scotland (Energy)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Inverness; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Chartership support

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Senior Overhead Line Engineer to join our Scotland Energy Networks team. You will lead overhead line design activities, provide technical leadership, and work with multidisciplinary teams on projects from 11kV to 400kV across Scotland, the UK and beyond.

Based in Glasgow, Edinburgh or Perth with hybrid working, you’ll develop reports, modelling, and route studies, mentor engineers, and support stakeholder engagement to deliver safe, efficient energy infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Demonstrable experience delivering overhead transmission line projects up to 400kV.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards registration.
• Experience with PLS-CADD and other design tools.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead overhead line engineering and design activities across 11kV to 400kV projects.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring within multidisciplinary teams.
• Prepare technical reports, designs, and engineering proposals.
• Conduct route development, structure spotting, clearance assessments, and conductor selection.
• Support feasibility studies and option assessments for clients.
• Engage with stakeholders and participate in technical committees.

Skills

Overhead line design

Stakeholder management

Technical leadership

Communication

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

Tools

PLS-CADD

PLS-TOWER

PLS-POLE

Job description

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

A Little More About Your Role… Scotland is playing a critical role in delivering the UK's future energy network. Significant investment is being made in transmission infrastructure across the country, with major reinforcement programmes, new connections for renewable generation and strategic network upgrades helping to support Net Zero ambitions. Overhead line infrastructure will be central to this transformation, and WSP is supporting many of the projects that will shape the next generation of the UK's electricity network. As a Senior Overhead Line Engineer, you will join a growing team delivering complex transmission projects across Scotland and the wider UK. Working from our Glasgow, Edinburgh or Perth offices, you will provide technical leadership on projects ranging from network reinforcement schemes through to major new transmission connections supporting offshore wind, renewable energy and grid infrastructure developments. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams across engineering, environmental, planning and project delivery disciplines, helping clients develop and deliver safe, efficient and sustainable overhead line solutions. This is an opportunity to play a leading role in some of the most significant energy infrastructure projects currently being developed across Scotland, while helping to grow and strengthen WSP's overhead line capability in the region.

Why join our Scotland Energy Networks team?

• Help Deliver Scotland's Energy Transition: Play a key role in developing the transmission infrastructure required to connect renewable generation and support the UK's journey to Net Zero.
• Work on Major Infrastructure Projects: Contribute to high-profile overhead line projects ranging from 11kV to 400kV, supporting network operators, developers and major energy clients.
• Build Local Capability: Be part of WSP's continued investment in Scotland, helping to grow a strong local overhead line engineering capability across Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth.
• Technical Leadership Opportunities: Share your expertise, mentor engineers and contribute to the development of best practice across a growing team.
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Work alongside specialists in substations, power systems, cables, environmental services, planning and asset management.
• Professional Development: Access structured development programmes, mentoring, Chartership support and opportunities to progress into technical, project or people leadership roles.
• Flexible and Hybrid Working: Balance local office collaboration with flexible working arrangements that support both project delivery and personal wellbeing.

This is an excellent opportunity to…

• Lead and support the delivery of overhead line engineering and design activities across transmission and distribution projects ranging from 11kV to 400kV.
• Provide technical leadership, guidance and mentoring to engineers within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Prepare technical reports, design documentation, specifications and engineering proposals to support project development and delivery.
• Undertake overhead line design activities including route development, PLS-CADD modelling, structure spotting, clearance assessments, structure loading, conductor and insulator selection and line optimisation studies.
• Carry out sag-tension calculations, blowout assessments, swing angle studies and other technical analyses required for overhead line design.
• Support feasibility studies and option assessments to identify technically preferred solutions for clients and stakeholders.
• Provide technical input during stakeholder engagement, statutory planning processes and public consultation activities.
• Review engineering deliverables and ensure designs comply with industry standards, client requirements and applicable regulations.
• Support project delivery through design reviews, technical assurance processes and quality management activities.
• Contribute to the development of innovative engineering solutions that improve performance, reduce risk and enhance constructability.
• Actively contribute to technical excellence initiatives and industry forums, helping to shape the future of overhead line engineering.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate…

• Degree qualified in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Power Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Demonstrable experience in the design and delivery of overhead transmission line projects up to 400kV.
• Strong understanding of overhead line design principles, including structure spotting, route optimisation, conductor selection, clearance assessments and line performance requirements.
• Experience supporting major transmission infrastructure projects, grid reinforcement schemes, renewable energy connections or wider energy network developments.
• Experience of conductor upgrade projects, including the application of High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductor technologies and network optimisation solutions.
• Working knowledge of industry design standards, utility requirements and engineering best practice relating to overhead transmission systems.
• Experience using industry-standard design tools such as PLS-CADD, PLS-TOWER and PLS-POLE would be highly advantageous.
• Knowledge of advanced technical studies including conductor galloping assessments, EMF and field effects calculations, acoustic assessments, wake effects and AC interference studies would be beneficial.
• Ability to provide technical leadership and act as a trusted advisor to clients, project managers and engineering teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence technical discussions and build strong working relationships.
• Experience supporting or participating in technical committees, working groups and professional organisations such as CIGRE, IEEE or IET would be advantageous.
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng), or a demonstrable commitment towards achieving professional registration.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to project sites and client locations across Scotland, the UK and internationally where required.
• A passion for helping shape Scotland's future energy network and contributing to the continued growth of WSP's overhead line engineering capability across Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

With us, you can.

About Us

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Work-life balance

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time

To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.